2013 has been an exciting year for Star Trek Online: new ships, a new faction, expanded story… the list goes on and on. And there is nothing roleplayers love more than a good story. So what is roleplaying exactly? Well, roleplaying is, by definition — "the art of playing a character in a fictional setting" (thank you Misters Merriam & Webster!).

"Roleplaying, [sic] takes us through the book and past that last page–past those two apocalyptic words that end our thrill ride. Roleplaying allows us to step into the eyes of a character and attempt to experience that world first."

In February, the 26th Fleet made it a point to attend the RP Roundtable organized by our friends at The Trust and hosted by our Community Manager, BranFlakes. We were excited to see so many players there supporting this great hobby, being passionate and generating ideas amongst the community. One of the major hurdles that everyone at the discussion seemed to agree on was the lack of random pick-up roleplay, or roleplay randomly occurring in the game world. It’s difficult to meet other characters at random when the game offers up so many different instances of the same iconic locations.

Star Trek Online STO MMORPG F2P Sci-Fi MMO Game Legacy of Romulus

Our answer to this dilemma is simple: provide a fixed location where roleplayers can congregate; a place where roleplayers can meet new people and network. We call this the “Open Starbase Project”.

We would love new RP guilds to form out of this project, a roleplay community that thrives in a Star Trek universe! We believe that by giving those players a dedicated nexus to roleplay and congregate, we can empower the playerbase.

Starbase 381 opened to the public this past July, offering new opportunities and adventures to dozens of roleplayers. Those players have since gone on to make new connections with other roleplayers. Friendships were formed, connections made. When the Season 3 Finale for the 26th Fleet event rolled around, our friends in The Trust, Task Force Argo, United Sector Task Force and Story Tellers all joined us in a night of action, adventure and explosions. A total of 80 players got together and mingled on one night.

Star Trek Online STO MMORPG F2P Sci-Fi MMO Game Legacy of Romulus

During our previous internal Season, we wrapped up the majority of the Klingon War, leaving it in a state of cold, non-conflict, much like the status given by Cryptic following the Borg invasion missions. Tensions are high, but the shooting has stopped… for now. Relocated to a pocket Galaxy first conceived by our friends at Star Trek: Starfinder, Praetorian stands poised at the entrance to a new galaxy of wonder and excitement, a Galaxy where anything is possible and the imaginations of the community can run wild.

We now invite you to join us on Starbase 381. Join the adventure, join the fun, and join together.

Go Boldly….

FAQ

Q: How does one gain access to Starbase 381?

A: The chat channel ‘SB381’ has been specifically created to handle starbase docking requests. Join the chat channel, and request docking permission. Praetorian's staff of Starfleet officers will direct you to a docking assignment and grant you and your crew shore leave! Torg's Bar is located on the Promenade; it's become a hot spot in the 3 months that the Open Starbase Project has been running.

Q: I've never roleplayed before. I have no idea what I'm doing; can I hang around and see what it's all about?

A: Absolutely! Roleplaying is a hobby, and like any hobby, the people who share in it and enjoy it want to introduce it to new people. Come to the base, hang out, and watch how it's done. When you feel comfortable enough to partake, jump right in.

Q: What sort of character is going to be welcome on your station?

A: Simply put, most. We're a guild that tries to find more ways to say 'yes' to roleplay, so as long as it's consistent with Star Trek canon, we doubt we're going to see a problem. We're trying to recreate some of the atmosphere from Deep Space Nine, with Starfleet officers, Federation allies, civilians, etc. freely roaming the station and engaging in missions and mischief together.

Q: Are we going to run into any inappropriate RP out in the open on your starbase?

A: No, you're not. If we see it happening we'll kindly ask that it be taken elsewhere. We're trying to generate a safe atmosphere on the base that is classified as PG13. If we have to ask the same individuals continuously to keep RP appropriate, we may not be able to re-invite them back to the base in the future.

Q: Can I blow up your starbase?

A: Please don't. Like all fleets, we've worked hard to get where we are now, and would appreciate it not being destroyed by a natural disaster or a bomb. However, if you have an idea that you think other guests would enjoy, please bring it to the fleet's leaders so we can discuss it. Our goal is to make an atmosphere where all are welcome and comfortable to RP.

Q: Can I create a mini (or large) plot involving your station and fleet members?

A: RP of all (appropriate) kinds is welcome. The idea is to network and generate our own content, bring your imagination and see who else will be interested in taking part in your ideas.

Q: What sort of conflict can I start on the station?

A: If the conflict is 'serious' (e.g. gun fights or similar), that will need to be worked out as a storyline with the people involved, and especially station security. If it is something like a verbal confrontation, or perhaps a bar fight, then have at it but be prepared for the constable to come break it up…. maybe.

Q: How long are we permitted to stay on the station for each session?

A: You can stay as long as you want, provided there are no unnecessary conflicts, or you are not AFK for an extended period of time. Remember, we want the base to be welcoming to all types of roleplay, but we also need to keep in mind that each map has a maximum number of players allowed at any given time. The Embassy and Dilithium Mine have a cap of around 20 players, the Starbase’s ground of around 50 and its space map of around 75. If you take too long being AFK, you might find yourself removed when you get back. This is nothing personal; it's just a need to make room for active roleplay.

Q: Which members can I contact if I have a problem with someone or something?

A: If you have an issue with a member of the 26th Fleet, you can speak to someone in the fleet's leadership. However, personal issues between players need to be handled independently, and if there is concern for something that may be breaking to game’s ToS, please file a GM report.

Q. What languages are spoken by the current community participating in ‘SB381’?